The Daily Star Ireland
Andy Farrell has acknowledged that he faces some difficult selection decisions ahead of Ireland’s final Autumn Nations Series match against Australia this Saturday. Ireland will be aiming to finish their November campaign with three wins from four matches when they host the Wallabies.
Farrell made several changes to his squad for the 52-17 victory over Fiji last weekend, with many of those adjustments proving successful. Gus McCarthy enjoyed an impressive debut, Craig Casey and Sam Prendergast formed a solid half-back partnership, and Bundee Aki was a standout, dominating both offensively and defensively.
Unfortunately, it seems unlikely that either Jamie Osborne or Jacob Stockdale will play against Australia. Osborne, who had been performing well at full-back, was forced off with a groin injury in the first half, while Stockdale was also having a strong game before suffering a hamstring injury midway through the second half. Farrell didn’t sound optimistic about their chances of recovery in time for the weekend.
For those who are fit, Farrell emphasized the importance of competition for places, noting that difficult selection choices are a sign of a healthy squad. He highlighted the significance of the upcoming match and confirmed that team selections would be made with the greater good of the squad in mind.
After a strong start to the series, Australia were defeated 27-13 by Scotland last Sunday at Murrayfield. Under former Ireland coach Joe Schmidt, the Wallabies have seen marked improvement, with six wins and six losses this year. Farrell, who worked alongside Schmidt for three years, is not surprised by the progress made under Schmidt’s leadership, especially after a tough World Cup campaign under Eddie Jones.
Farrell praised Schmidt’s approach, noting that the Wallabies had always had the talent but that Schmidt had used the past few months to get to know his players better, helping them play better rugby. This will be Schmidt’s first time returning to the Aviva Stadium as a head coach since his time with New Zealand, and Farrell is aware of the significance of the match, especially as it coincides with the IRFU’s 150th anniversary celebrations. Farrell intends to embrace the occasion, understanding the importance of both Schmidt’s return and the milestone for Irish rugby.
